About the Artist
Dawn Sutherland is a painter of Grand Canyon and Southwest landscapes. A teacher in her first life, a counselor in her second, she began her third career as a painter in 2001. A move from Wisconsin to Arizona in 2004 brought the challenge of painting intense blue skies, distant horizons, canyon mazes and crazy quilts of wildflowers blanketing the earth.
"Painting outdoors uniquely captures the depth, definition, and feeling of the landscape before me. Nature almost always provides a nearly perfect composition. Sometimes a scene calls out loudly to be painted; sometimes I hear only a whisper. These are the images that find their way to my heart and my canvas"
Since 2015, when Dawn signed on to her first river trip through Grand Canyon, she has chartered six trips of her own through her beloved Canyon, introducing friends and acquaintances to the magic and grandeur of that magnificent gorge. Dawn takes her painting gear on trips to capture both the peace and power of the Canyon and the Colorado River. Her plein air canvases painted in the depths of Grand Canyon result in major works produced in her studio.
When she is not in her studio, Dawn can be found in her gardens exploring hiking trails, or singing with the Tucson Symphony Chorus. Dawn has painted in the Prescott Plein Air Festival since its inception in 2020 and co-judged the show in 2024 and 2025. The 2026 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art marks Dawn's 13th year painting in this event. A founding member of Arizona Plein Air Painters, Dawn is also a member of The Nature Conservancy, and Grand Canyon Conservancy. She serves on the GCC advisory committee for the new art venue where all Grand Canyon art, both historic and contemporary, will be on display. She is also a member of Best Friends Animal Society, International Crane Foundation and Morris Animal Foundation.
Dawn teaches landscape painting at Northern Arizona University's Honors College. She is represented by Arizona Handmade Gallery in Flagstaff, and Tucson Desert Art Museum's Four Corners Gallery. Her work is also on display at Sedona's El Portal Hacienda.
Recent Awards and Shows:
Mountain Oyster Contemporary Western Art Show 2022-2025
Grand Canyon Celebration of Art 2014-2026
Best in Show-Grand Canyon Celebration of Art 2023
Honorable Mention-Prescott Plein Air Festival-2023
Best Body of Work-Prescott Plein Air Festival-2022
Award of Excellence-Tubac Center for the Arts Show-2022
What folks are saying--
I recently returned to your last email blast to review what I didn’t have time to read upon its receipt. There I was met by your “Into the Light,” “River Shadows,” recollections of John Poon, and more. I was reminded again that your paintings have a way of capturing the eternal hope and incredible beauty which exists within the overwhelming and challenging grandeur of the Canyon. --Craig H.I'm lucky to have visited the grand canyon and more lucky to meet the most brilliant painter like you. You have made me see the amazing scenes again. I love your paintings and hope I get to meet you again with my deep gratitude for your paintings. --Xia Zhou
